Fusee flare kit



United States Patent Inventor Paul H. Griffith Penn Valley, Norberth,Pennsylvania Appl. No. 814,507 Filed March 26, 1969 Continuation-in-partof Ser. No. 709,854, filed Feb. 6, 1968 and Ser. No. 525,985, filed Feb8, 1966, both now abandoned. Patented Aug. 18, 1970 Assignee BristolFlare Corporation Bristol, Pennsylvania a Corp. of Delaware FUSEE FLAREKIT 7 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl l02/37.4, 206/3l Int. Cl CObd 1/10, Field of Search 206/31;

Primary Examiner- Robert F. Stahl Atlarne v John F. A. Earley ABSTRACT:A fusee flare kit for motorists comprising a box having a drawer or trayand a sleeve adapted to slip on and off the tray, with a mounting holeformed in the bottom of the tray. The box contains three fusee flares,with each flare including a body member containing a flare material andhaving an ignition button at one end which is covered by a removablecap. A rigid scratch strip is provided that is separate from the fuseeflares and is adapted for a wiping action with the ignition button toignite the flare after the cap has been removed. The scratch strip ismounted on the box, or is a separate piece of elongated paperboard thatis V-shaped or is curved in cross section. In one embodiment, thescratch strip is mounted on the tray and is exposed only when the box isopen. In another embodiment the sleeve is provided with cutaway portionsat one end for easier opening of the box and for locating the scratchstrip visually when the box is closed.

Patented -Aug. 18, 1970 3,524,409

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FIG. 5.

FIG; 6.

I INVENTOR gai lll PAUL H. GRIFFITH v ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 18, 1970 I3,524,409

Sheet 2 of 3 mvamon FIG. IO- PAULv H. GRIFFITH ATTQRNE Patented Aug. 18,1970 3,524,409

Sheet 3 013 I INVENTOR PAUL H. GRlFFlTH ATTORNEY FUSEE FLARE KIT CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending patent application Serial No.709,854 filed February 6, 1968, and Serial No. 525,985, filed February8, 1966, both now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to emergencysignaling, and more particularly concerns a fusee flare kit formotorists and the like.

When an automobile or other vehicle breaks down at night on the highway,it is important to warn other motorists of the location of the disabledvehicle. One way of doing this is to pIace flares on the highway at adistance to the rear so as to signal oncoming traffic.

Conventional fusee flares include a body member containing a flarematerial, an ignition button at the top end of the body member, aremovable cap covering the ignition button and body member top, and ascratch member positioned inside the cap. A paperboard or wire stand orother type of support may be provided to hold the flare upright on thehighway when in use. A tape is positioned under the wrapping of the capand extends therefrom. To ignite the flare, the tape is pulled up andover, tearing the wrapping and exposing the scratch surface on top ofcap and by such tearing facilitating twist off and removal ofcap. Cap isthen rubbed across the ignition button. This may be somewhat difficultin the dark and also under adverse weather conditions, especially if theuser is inexperienced in igniting flares. The cap is small and may bedropped and be hard to find in the dark or in snow or it may get wetfrom rain and not work, or the user may not be aware of the existence ofthe scratch member and may throw the cap away, not realizing it isneeded to ignite the flare.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The flares of this kit are especially adaptedfor use in an emergency on a highway to signal the presence of adisabled car, and are ignited and placed on the highway at a distance tothe rear of the disabled vehicle in order to signal oncoming traffic.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fusee flare kit which isespecially adapted for use as an emergency signal by a motorist toindicate the presence of a disabled vehicle.

It is another object to provide for easy and safe ignition of the fuseeflare even in complete darkness by a person who has never ignited afusee flare before.

It is another object to provide for easily opening the box. and forquickly locating the scratch strip visually when the box is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of thisinvention, including its simplicity and economy, will further becomeapparent hereinafter and in the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of a fusee flare kit constructed inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 through 4 illustrate the steps of removing a cap and igniting theflare;

FIG. 5 illustrates igniting the flare using another embodimentofigniting means;

FIG. 6 shows the flare in burning position on a highway;

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment ofigniting means;

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the fusee flarekit shown with the box closed;

FIG. 9 is a view in perspective of the kit of FIG. 8 with the box partlyopen;

FIG. I is a view illustrating the step ofigniting a fusee flare on thebox ofFIG. 8;

FIG. II is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the fuseeflare ki shown with the box closed;

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective of the box of FIG. I I with its traypulled out of its sleeve;

FIG. 13 is a view, partly in section, of a flare such as is contained inthe box of FIG. I I;

FIG. I4 is a view illustrating the step of opening the box of FIG. Il;and

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the step of igniting the flare of FIG. I3on the box ofFIG. I l.

10 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although specific terms areused in the following description for clarity, these terms are intendedto refer only to the structure shown in the drawings and are notintended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Turning now to the specific embodiments of the invention selected forillustration in the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7 a fusee flarekit 10 which comprises a box 12 that contains three fusee flares l4 andhas a rigid scratch strip I6 mounted on the side of the box. Each flareis provided with an ignition button 18 at one end, and scratch strip 16is adapted for a wiping action with ignition button 18 to thereby ignitethe flare. Flares I4 include, besides ignition button 18, a body member20 containing a flare material, wires 22 extending from body member 20near its base and having free ends 24 which are adapted to be bent awayfrom fusee body 20 to form a tripod with the base of body member 20, anda removable cap 26 which covers the ignition button 18. A tape 28 ispositioned under cap 26 and has a free end which extends from the capand is pulled to tear through the cap and assist in removing it from theflare.

Box I2 includes a tray 32 having a bottom panel 34, with side panels 36and end panels 38 connected to bottom panel 34 by crease lines.

A sleeve 40 is adapted to slip on and off tray 32 and is provided with atop panel 42 and a bottom panel 44 joined together along crease lines byside panels 46. The ends of sleeve 40 are open. A mounting hole 48 isformed near the top end of tray bottom panel 34 and is adapted toreceive a nail or the like for displaying kit 10, as on a pegboard in astore market. Kit 10 is adapted for display with the box 12 partly openso that the top portion of the flares 14 are in view to prospectivecustomers. Accordingly, sleeve 40 fits sufficiently snugly around tray32 so that frictional engagement between these two elements prevents thesleeve 40 from slipping off the tray 32 when kit I0 is hung by itsmounting hole 48.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein a scratchstrip 50 is provided which is made of paperboard and is folded along acrease line 52 so as to form a V in cross section. A scratch surface 54covers the inside or facing surfaces of the V. The crease line 52 andthe V cross section gives the necessary rigidity to scratch strip 50 sothat button 18 may be wiped across scratch surface 54 without bucklingthe strip. In the ignition operation, button 18 may be wiped acrosssurface 54, or, just the reverse, surface 54 may be wiped across button18 while the flare is held steady.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a scratch strip 56 which ismade of paperboard and is curved to form the arc ofa circle and fitsnugly around body member 20 of flare 14. The inside of strip 56 isprovided with a scratch surface. The arc may form half a circle, or alittle less, and this curved construction makes strip 56 sufficientlyrigid to resist buckling when button I8 is wiped across its scratchsurface during the ignition operation. If desired, a rubber band 58 maybe used to secure strip 56 to the fusee flare during shipping andstorage.

The operation of the invention in an emergency is as follows. If amotorist's vehicle should break down on the highway, the motorist isinstructed to go well to the rear of his disabled vehicle carrying thefusee flare kit 10 with him. He slides open box 12, removes a flare l4,and closes the box. He bends the wires 22 down and away from the flareto form a tripod stand with the base of'body member 20. He pulls tape 28in the manner shown in FIG. 2, twists off the cap 26 as shown in FIG. 3.and drops the cap. 'l'hen he holds box 12 and flare I4 at arms length.and wipes ignition button 18 across scratch strip 16 as shown in FIG. 4to ignite the flare. Then he places the lighted flare on the highwaywhere it burns in the manner shown in FIG. 6.

The operation is the same for the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. exceptthat separate scratch strip 50 is used to ignite the button I8 insteadof scratch strip I6 which is mounted directly on box I2. Separatescratch strip 50 may be provided separately. or it may be packed in box12. If desired, it may be curved to conform with the body ofthe fuseeflare.

Ignition button 18 resembles a flattened oval in cross section and maybe contacted by one or both facing scratch sur faces 54 on separatescratch strip 50.

Very satisfactory results have been obtained where the composition ofthe various flare elements is as follows. The flare material in bodymember 20 comprises a mixture of strontium nitrate, perchlorate ofpotash. sulphur, sawdust, and shellac. The ignition button 18 comprisesa mixture of chlorate of potash. burnt umber. strontium carbonate, charcoal. and shellac, and an ignition flll connects button 18 to the flaremixture and comprises a mix ofchlorate of potash. strontium nitrate,burnt umber. charcoal, and shellac. Scratch strip 16 and scratch surface54 comprise phosphorus. antimony, ground glass. manganese dioxide, andemery in a binder in cluding a lacquer and a thinner.

Turning now to the embodiment ofthe invention of FIGS. 8 to 10, there isshown a fusee flare kit 60 for motorists and the like comprising a box62 that includes a tray 64 with a bottom panel 66 having a pair of sidepanels 68 and a pair of end panels 70 extending therefrom and connectedtogether. Box 62 also includes a sleeve 72 having a top panel 74connected to a bottom panel 76 by side panels 78.

A scratch strip 80 is mounted near the end of one sleeve side panel 78,and another scratch strip 82 is mounted near the end ofside panel 68ofthe tray 64.

Scratch strip 82 is mounted on tray 64 so that when box 62 is closed,scratch strip 82 is protected from abrasion and from rain. and yetscratch strip 82 is easily accessible when the box is open.

Scratch strip 82 is mounted near the end of side panel 68 so as to befar removed from the ignition button of any flares remaining in box 62while another flare is being ignited.

In operation, the flare 20 is removed from box 62 and the cap 26 isremoved. Then the still open box is held as shown in FIG. l in one hand.while the other hand moves the ignition button I8 across the scratchsurfaces 80 and 82. Scratch surface 80 is positioned at the end ofsleeveside panel 78 so as to form a continuous scratch strip with scratchsurface 82 mounted on the end of the tray side panel 68, and therebygive a longer scratch surface.

However, it is not necessary to use scratch surface 80 in ig niting theflare 20. since the flare can be ignited by passing the ignition button18 across the scratch surface 82 only. Accordingly, even if scratchsurface 80 has become useless and inoperable for igniting a flare.because of the dampness from the rain or because of being damaged fromabrasion. the flare may be ignited very easily by using the undamagedand dry scratch surface 82 which has been protected by sleeve 72 whenthe box 62 is closed.

Turning now to the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in FIGS. lll5.there is shown a fusee flare kit 84 for motorists and the likecomprising a box 86 containing three flares 88. Box 86 includes a tray90 with a bottom panel 92 having a pair of side panels 94, 96 and a pairofend panels 98. I00 extending upwardly therefrom and connected togetherto define an open tray top. Box 86 also includes a sleeve I02 having atop panel 104 connected to a bottom panel I06 by side panels 108.

Sleeve side panels I08 include a cutaway portion I at one end so thatone hand 2 may grasp sleeve I02 and the other hand I I4 may grasp thetray side panels 94 and 96 between its thumb and middle finger throughthe sleeve cutaway portions 110. as is illustrated in FIG. 14. to easilyslide the tray from sleeve I02 and open the box 86.

A scratch strip I16 is mounted near one end of sleeve side panel I08 sothat a cut-away portion Ill) is positioned to expose a portion.approximately one-quarter, of the scratch strip when the box 86 isclosed to thereby locate the scratch strip 116 quickly on visualinspection of the box by the user. Approximately three-quarters ofscratch strip 116 remains covered by side panel I08 of sleeve 102 tothereby protect the scratch strip from weather or other damage whichmight be caused by abrasion.

Fusee flares 88 include a body member 118 containing a flare material,an ignition button 120. and a cap 122 which is made of paperboard and iscup-shaped with the cup having side walls 124 and a convex top 126 thatforms a cushion above ignition button 120. A paper cover I28 is glued tocap 122 and body member 118 to fix the cap 122 in place. The side wallsof cap 122 frictionally engage a ring 130 which protrudes outwardly fromthe top of the body member I18 of the fusee flare.

In operation. fusee flares 88 are removed from box 86 in the mannershown in FIG. 14 by grasping sleeve 102 with the left hand and graspingtray 90 with the right thumb and middle finger at cutaway portions 110.Then the tray is slid relative to the sleeve to open the box and alsoexpose the hidden portion of scratch strip 116. A fusee flare 88 isremoved from box 86. cap 122 is twisted to break the seal formed bycover 128. and the cap is removed to expose ignition button 120. Thenignition button is rubbed against scratch strip 116 to ignite the fuseeflare, and the flare is then placed in the roadway. Fusee flares 88 maybe provided with support devices such as wires 22 shown in theembodiment of FIGS. l7.

The fusee flare kit 84 is easier to open because ofthe provision of thecutaway portions I10 in sleeve 102. and the cu taway portion I10 alsoserves to locate the position of the scratch strip. Further, theelimination of the scratch strip from the conventional fusee cap servesto reduce the cost of the fusee flares.

The operation of igniting the fusee is simple and may be done in thedark in complete safety.

The fusee flares help prevent rear end collisions when a vehicle isdisabled on the road. or when a motorist is changing a tire. They arealways ready for instant use, and emit a brilliant red warning light insnow. rain. or fog. and do so night or day. The fusee flares are easy.fast. and safe to use. and the kit is easy to store in the glovecompartment or in the trunk ofthe car. The fusee flare kit and itsscratch strips are entirely new in the art. The invention providesimproved safety in emergency highway signaling because it is much saferto ignite the flare by using the scratch strips as compared toconventional ignition methods.

While the scratch kits have been described in relation to highway use.it may also be used in other fields such as in marine and railroademergency signaling.

I claim:

I. A fusee flare kit for motorists and the like. comprising a box. atleast one fusee flare contained within the box. each flare having anignition button at one end and including a body member containing aflare material and a removable cap which covers the ignition button, anda rigid scratch strip separate from the fusee flare and adapted forwiping action with said ignition button to ignite the flare after thecap has been removed, said scratch strip being made of a piece ofelongated paperboard folded along a crease line to form a V in crosssection. with the scratch surface covering the facing surfaces ofthe V.

2. A fusee flare kit for motorists and the like. comprising a box. atleast one fusee flare contained within the box. each flare having anignition button at one end and including a body member containing aflare material and a removable cap which covers the ignition button. anda rigid scratch strip separate from the fusee flare and adapted forwiping action with said ignition button to ignite the flare after thecap has been removed. said scratch strip bcing made of paperboard curvedto fit snugly around the flare during storage.

3. A fusee flare kit for motorists and the like, comprising a box, atleast one fusee flare contained within the box, each flare having anignition button at one end and including a body member containing aflare material and a removable cap which covers the ignition button, anda first and second rigid scratch strip separate from the fusee flare andadapted for wiping action with said ignition button to ignite the flareafter the cap has been removed, said box having a sleeve and a trayslidable therein with a bottom panel having a pair of side and endpanels extending therefrom and connected together to define an opentray, said first scratch strip being mounted on the tray so that whenthe box is closed the first scratch strip is protected from abrasion andrain, and when the box is open the first scratch strip extends away fromthe sleeve, the flares are accessible for withdrawal, and the firstscratch strip is exposed for igniting the flares, said second scratchstrip being mounted on the sleeve so that when the tray is opened thescratch strips align themselves and form a continuous abrasive surface.

4. The flare kit of Claim 3, wherein the first scratch strip is mountednear the end of a side panel of the tray at the other end of the boxaway from the ignition button of said flares.

5. A fusee flare kit for motorists and the like, comprising a box, atleast one fusee flare contained within the box, each flare having anignition button at one end and including a body member containing aflare material and a removable cap which covers the ignition button, anda rigid scratch strip separate from the fusee flare and adapted forwiping action with said ignition button to ignite the flare after thecap has been removed, said box having a sleeve with top, bottom and sidepanels and a tray slidable therein with a bottom panel having a pair ofside and end panels extending therefrom and connected together to deflnean open tray top, said scratch strip being mounted on one of the trayside panels, said sleeve side panels having a cutaway portion at one endso that one hand may grasp the sleeve and the other hand may grasp thetray side panels through said sleeve cutaway portions to easily slidethe tray from the sleeve and open the box, one of said cutaway portionsbeing positioned so as to expose a portion of the scratch strip when thebox is closed to thereby locate the strip quickly on visual inspectionof the box by the user.

6. The fusee flare kit of Claim 5, wherein said cap comprises apaperboard cup.

7. The fusee flare kit of Claim 6, wherein the cup has a convex top thatforms a cushion.

